Sauce Gardner hasn't had enough time to cement his status as a great Indianapolis Colts player or a trade bust. He has had just one half-season with the team, and even then, his time spent in Indy was when the team was falling apart due to other players getting hurt and an increase in the level of competition.
Before joining Indianapolis, Gardner was a terrific player for the New York Jets. He made All-Pro teams and was a true CB1. He will likely be that for the Colts too, but he needs a chance to prove himself. The issue is that in today's media world, narratives are often forced to change over a couple of games. It's unfair.
Yet, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports is doing just that with Gardner. In a recent ranking of top-100 NFL players, Prisco ranks Gardner No. 48. A solid number, but too low based on his own words. He believes in the cornerback, but obviously thinks he needs to step up.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner gets the short shrift by CBS Sports
Prisco writes, "His play wasn't elite last season, but the tools are still there. For what the Colts gave up to get him – two first-round picks – he better be elite this year."
By the way, the above isn't a typo on our part, but what the CBS Sports writer wrote. What he means exactly? Who knows? Maybe he should work for a site that has a bit more editor input.
We do know that Prisco claims that Sauce Gardner suddenly diminished in 2025, and after ranking him 24 spots higher last offseason, the talented cornerback sinks ahead of 2026. The logic isn't sound.
Sure, the Colts' cornerback missed four of his eight possible games once he joined Indianapolis midway through last season (he was dealing with a calf issue), but he wasn't suddenly a worse player. First off, he's only 24 years old and has a long time to be great. Secondly, maybe he should get a break for acclimating to only his second team in the league.
According to Pro Football Focus (if you believe in their algorithm and how they rank players, and you will need to subscribe to get all of that), Gardner ranked ninth among all NFL cornerbacks last season. He graded even better after joining the Indianapolis Colts.
The truth is that Sauce Gardner could very well be elite for the Indianapolis Colts while the team fails to make the postseason. That wouldn't be the cornerback's problem. He will have done his job and is a top-20 player. Pete Prisco simply needs to look at the enhanced statistics a bit more. Gardner was better in 2025 than he was in 2024. He will probably be better in 2026, too.
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